Get ready to create some holiday magic with this incredible Christmas Santa cookie recipe! These delightful cookies are soft, perfectly chewy, and packed with festive red and green M&Ms. This recipe brings a classic, heartwarming appeal to your holiday table, making them absolutely perfect for sharing with family, friends, or even Santa himself. You’ll love how easy they are to prepare, making holiday baking a breeze.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Santa Cookie Recipe
- Irresistibly Soft & Chewy: The secret ingredient, instant vanilla pudding mix, guarantees an incredibly tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture in every bite of this Christmas Santa cookie recipe. Research highlights that adding instant pudding mix to cookie dough creates a soft, chewy, and tender texture.
- Festive & Fun: Vibrant red and green M&Ms, along with a sprinkle of chocolate chips, make these cookies look as joyful as they taste. They truly capture the holiday spirit!
- Double the Chocolate: Enjoy a delightful mix of both semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, creating a rich and balanced chocolatey flavor.
- Simple Ingredients: You’ll find most of these common pantry staples already in your kitchen, making it easy to whip up a batch anytime.
- Easy Baking: This straightforward recipe is perfect for bakers of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned pros.
- Kid-Friendly Activity: Get the little ones involved in pressing M&Ms onto the dough. It’s a wonderful way to create holiday memories together.
Ingredients
This festive Christmas Santa cookie recipe calls for simple ingredients that combine to create a truly delicious holiday treat. Gather these essentials to start your baking adventure!
- Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 small box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix (dry, not prepared)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Wet Ingredients:
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¾ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Mix-ins:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup red and green M&M candies
Notes & Substitutions
- Butter: Always use unsalted butter to control the saltiness. Ensuring butter is at room temperature is crucial for proper creaming and optimal cookie texture.
- Sugars: The light brown sugar is crucial for the cookies’ chewy texture. You can adjust the ratio slightly if you prefer more or less sweetness.
- Pudding Mix: You must use instant vanilla pudding mix. Cook & Serve varieties will not yield the same soft, chewy result. Feel free to experiment with other instant pudding flavors like cheesecake or butterscotch for a fun twist.
- Chocolate: Get creative with your chocolate! Swap out chip types for dark chocolate, mini chips, or even chopped chocolate bars. Holiday-themed candies or sprinkles also work wonderfully.
- Flour Measurement: Always spoon and level your flour into the measuring cup. Scooping directly from the bag can lead to too much flour, resulting in dry cookies.
- Egg Temperature: A room temperature egg incorporates better with the creamed butter and sugar, creating a smoother, more cohesive dough.
Equipment
You’ll need a few basic kitchen tools to make these delightful cookies.
- 2 large mixing bowls
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
- Cooling rack
Instructions
Creating this soft and chewy Christmas Santa cookie recipe is straightforward. Follow these steps for perfect holiday cookies every time!
- Cream Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Mix for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, instant vanilla pudding mix, baking soda, and salt. Make sure these dry ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients in the large bowl. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can lead to tough cookies.
- Fold in Mix-ins: Gently stir in most of the semi-sweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips. Reserve about ¼ cup of these chips and all of the red and green M&M candies for decorating the tops later.
- Chill Dough: Cover the cookie dough tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate it for at least 1 hour. Chilling allows the flavors to meld and prevents the cookies from spreading too much while baking. You can chill it for up to 24 hours for enhanced flavor and texture.
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Sheets: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Scoop & Shape: Scoop approximately 2-3 tablespoons of cookie dough for each cookie. Roll the dough into smooth balls, roughly the size of a golf ball. Place them onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for spreading.
- Decorate: Gently press the reserved chocolate chips and red and green M&M candies onto the tops of each cookie dough ball. This ensures they are visible and vibrant after baking.
- Bake: Bake for 9-12 minutes. The cookies are done when the edges are lightly golden and set, but the centers still look slightly soft and gooey. Avoid overbaking to maintain their chewy texture.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. This allows them to set up properly without falling apart. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store: Once completely cooled, store your delicious cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
Pro Tips for the Best Santa Cookies
- Prevent Dry Dough: Accurate flour measurement is key. Always spoon flour into your measuring cup and then level it off. If your dough still feels too crumbly, try adding an extra egg white or a teaspoon of milk, a tiny bit at a time, until it comes together.
- Perfect Texture: The instant pudding mix truly works wonders for achieving an incredibly soft, moist, and chewy cookie. Remember, avoid overmixing the dough once the flour is added, as this can develop the gluten too much and result in tough cookies.
- Optimal Baking: Keep a close eye on your cookies while baking. They should be just set at the edges with centers that still appear slightly soft. This slight underbaking is the secret to a wonderfully chewy interior.
- Cooling Process: Don’t rush the cooling! Allowing the cookies to rest on the hot baking sheet for 10 minutes after removing them from the oven is crucial. This step helps them finish baking gently and prevents them from flattening or breaking when moved.
- Enhanced Presentation: For that picture-perfect, bakery-style look, always press extra M&Ms and chocolate chips onto the tops of the dough balls before baking. This ensures the festive colors and delicious mix-ins are prominently displayed.
Serving, Storage, and Variations
Make the most of your festive cookies with these handy tips.
- Serving Suggestions: These cookies are delightful served warm with a tall glass of cold milk. Arrange them on a festive holiday platter for a beautiful dessert display, or package them in cellophane bags with ribbons for thoughtful homemade gifts.
- Storage: Once completely cooled, store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. This helps maintain their incredible softness and chewiness.
- Freezing Baked Cookies: To enjoy later, cool baked cookies completely. Flash freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid. Then, transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper. They will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature when ready to enjoy.
- Freezing Cookie Dough: You can also freeze the raw cookie dough. Form dough balls, press with reserved candies, then freeze them on a baking sheet until solid. Transfer them to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. When baking from frozen, add a couple of extra minutes to the bake time.
- Flavor Variations: Get creative with your batch! Add ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract for a festive, minty twist. Swap out the M&Ms for other holiday-themed candies, sprinkles, or even finely chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for added crunch.
Nutrition Information
Disclaimer: Nutritional values are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients, portion sizes, and preparation methods. This information is provided for general guidance only.
Per Serving (1 cookie):
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 238 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 39g |
| Protein | 3g |
| Fat | 8g |
| Saturated Fat | 4g |
| Trans Fat | 1g |
| Cholesterol | 13mg |
| Sodium | 186mg |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Sugar | 26g |
| Vitamin A | 38 IU |
| Vitamin C | 1mg |
| Calcium | 49mg |
| Iron | 1mg |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q1: How do I keep my Christmas Santa cookies soft and chewy?
- A1: The key is using instant pudding mix, carefully avoiding overbaking, and storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. This helps lock in moisture.
- Q2: Can I make this cookie dough ahead of time?
- A2: Absolutely! Chilling the dough for at least an hour, or even up to 24 hours, can actually deepen the flavors and significantly improve the final cookie texture.
- Q3: How do I fix crumbly or dry cookie dough?
- A3: First, ensure you measured your flour correctly by spooning and leveling it. If it’s still too dry, gradually add an egg white or a teaspoon of milk until the dough comes together.
- Q4: Can I use different types of chocolate or candies?
- A4: Yes, feel free to get creative! You can easily experiment with dark chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips, or various holiday sprinkles and other small candies to customize your cookies.
Conclusion
This Christmas Santa cookie recipe is truly a holiday winner. With its irresistibly soft and chewy texture, festive colors, and simple preparation, it’s designed to bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to everyone’s faces. It’s the perfect treat for spreading holiday cheer, sharing with loved ones, or leaving out for Santa on Christmas Eve. We encourage you to try this delightful recipe, enjoy the process, and create some wonderful, lasting memories this holiday season. Bake, enjoy, and don’t forget to share your experience with us!
